a bleeding purple utah jazz blog

Game 6 vs. MIL: Balanced Minutes > *

That’s more like it.* I loved the balanced minutes for guys young and old and loved seeing Alec Burks getting real playing time late in the game (though that may have been due to Josh Howard’s injury). Good things happened with this approach. Poor Jeremy Evans only got in the game in the final minutes, but scored on a fantastic alley-oop (from Earl Watson, of course).

Have to say that I really like what I’ve seen from Jamaal Tinsley as far as a veteran leader on the bench. He’s always talking to the young guys and looks to me like a positive vet for the young guys to be around. I also like that he doesn’t dominate the ball and looks for his teammates when he does get on the court.

*I know it was an ugly game at times, but I’m approaching this from a place of low expectations.

Watching Alec Burks without sound is pretty entertaining:

Game Notes:** 11 players saw the court in the first quarter.** Derrick Favors had 3 blocks in 7+ first quarter minutes.** At the half, our wings of Josh Howard, Raja Bell, Alec Burks, CJ Miles, and Devin Harris were 0-11. They ended the game 5-25.** Howard and Harris both left the game with leg issues and didn’t return.** I just love watching Enes Kanter zero in on the ball and go after it.** Happy to see Raja connect on a 3.** Derrick Favors, post-game: I take pride in defense. I mean, offense is cool, but I take pride in keeping my man from scoring and just playing defense.(1)** Al Jefferson did a great job on the scoring front in that he was dunking the ball and taking it straight in more often than not. I’d be so happy if he keeps doing that. Big Al’s been (not unjustifiably) accused of being a black home offensively, but he’s trying to get better.

Al, post-game: My teammates trust me, get the ball to me. I still made some dumb decisions trying to force it when two guys was on me and took a bad shot but they kept trusting me…I just gotta perform.(3)

And you know he means it, because this is the face he made when he said the word “dumb”:

Tweet of the Night

Unintentional Dirty Quote Machines of the Night** Ty Corbin on holding shootaround: It’s an opportunity to get guys out of bed for a little bit just to come over and do some things and get the blood flowing a little bit.** Ty Corbin on Andrew Bogut: [He’s] continued to learn how he can take advantage of different guys as big as he is or in some cases smaller.** Harpring: He’s a banger. A little undersized, but that’s what he does.** Harpring: Big Al getting what he wants, when he wants it.** Harpring: Not a banger, you saw Millsap get a little hand in there.** Devin Harris, post-game: That’s always good for the young guys to stay ready. Once you give them that bone, they’re ready to go out there play hard.** BTS to Derrick Favors, post-game: Do you take pride in being able to stuff guys and just kind of get nasty?